Tractor cab



llg. 28, 1951 R H, L 2,565,919 y TRACTOR CAB Filed Nov. 15, 1945 INVENTOIL l Paaewr/Ku,

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Patented Aug. .28, 1951 f 'TRACTOR CABl Robert H. Hill, Fort Wa yne, Ind., assignor, to j Pump Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Company, Fort Indiana.

Application November 15,1946, serial No. @10,055 'i 2 claims. (cl. 29e- 2er This invention relates to a tractor cab, as for n a farm tractor.

,-It is the object of my invention to provide an improved cab for associationwith a tractor, such as a farm tractor, which will be readily adaptedf 'to meet the variable conditions under which useful operation of the tractor occurs; which will provide convenience and comfort in substantially all of such conditions and will be readily changeable to meet such conditions as the varia-y tions therein occur. It is my further object to provide a cab which will provide for the convenient operation of the tractor under the different conditions of operation, and for the convenient operation of the several implements and l accessories which may be operated by the tractor cpr-associated withit in its operation. It is my further object to provide a cab which can be mounted on the tractor and removed therefrom conveniently by the operator himself, and which will be inexpensive, readily manufactured and distributed, and practical and sturdy in use.V

Y In the attainment of these objects, I make a tractor cab of light weight from sheet-metal Vstampings of a size to give the operator ample room, and avoid substantial excess size or weight. I make the cab-top of a single sheet-metal stamping and the upper halves of the side and front walls of the cab of sheet metal'panels having large window openings, and I close the sidewindows, the lower-halves of the side and front- .walls, and the full height of the back-wall, with readily removable curtains having transparent Windows therein. With the curtains all in place, the cab provides protection and comfort tothe operator in cold or stormy weather. By partial removal of the curtains, -the cab may be adapted to intermediate weather conditions, and by full removal the cab gives desirable protection from the sun with ample openings for coolness. The curtain for the Vrear wall of thev cab is divided, on ahorizontal middle line, either or both parts of which may be used .as desired, to 'give both protection and ample freedom for the manipulation of controls of implements attached to .the tractor. y

K The cab is of a special shape, .which contributes functionally to its advantages. Thus,

the front wall of the tractor has a considerable backward slope, to place its lower end in posi-l tion for attachment to the tractorwell ahead of the operating mechanism therefor, to give ample leg and foot room for the operator and for his use of foot-operatedY controls, and yet to reduce the roof andside'wall area and hence to reduce weight. f The backwall of theeab has a generally vertical upper-portion, and aY lower portion1which slopes abruptlyinward to a point on the axle of the housing, to givefull and convenient clearance Afor attachment to the tractor of various implements as desired. .Moreoven this configuration of the backwallfand theH corresponding configuration of the `side walls` puts-the lower end of the back wall below, 'or-nearly below, the center of gravity v`ofthe fcab; which contributes toits ready mounting.` and Ademounting from the tractor. y. l To supports the cabon the tractor, I provide pivotal supports on ag transverse axis ahead of the rear wall of thefca'b but slightly behind-the center of gravitygofthe Ifcabr and 'supplemental brackets at-theforward-fwall of the cab which,

upon release,v areldesirablyseparable'from the A tractor by rearward pivotal'movement ofthe cab tractor away, leaving the cab on the stationary support; vrIn 'this operation, vby reason' of the locationofthe cab supports, the operator is're'- quired to do a minimum of lifting, for ythe rear- --ward tilting of the cabacarries it through but *a Vshort movement before'` it isfin a balanced `position over the pivotal support, and he then is required merely to lower'the cabrearwardly tothe stationary bed.- v l' The replacement of the cab on the tractorl is `likewiserelativelyl simple, and ;well within'the capacity ,of anl ordinary single foperaton vIt--frequires merely that the Yoperator-back the` tractor into position to connect therear supports. He .then tilts the cabgforwardfabcut the pivotaxis .ofthe real-.supports `until-,its front supports` are engaged, and secures those fronti-supports. While this operation requires more liftingthan the 'removal-operatiomthat lifting may be done-from the ground, rwhere the operator has Va kfirm-footing, and no lifting is required in-either operations from positions fony 4the .tractor It is ,noted that theffrgnt .Supports .for the maar are mounted 4 the sides and front by welding, I prefer to secure the top to the cab, and to secure the front panel I8 to the front corner members I0, by bolts. By this means, the cab may be shipped in the usual channels of distribution in a disassembled condition, with the two unitary7 side walls including the corner members, the iront panel I8, the top 30, and the side'curtains'packed in nested rela- The accompanying drawing illustrates my vention. In such drawing, Fig. l is a side ele vation of a cab embodying my invention, shown in full lines in place on a tractor, and in: dotted .l

lines in its rearward tilted position resting cna stationary support; Fig. 2 is a similar 'side elevation of the cab in upright position? Fig. 3'is a rear elevation of a cab; and Fig. 4 visa front elevation of the cab.

The side-walls of the tractor may be unitary stampings, but desirably, and as showninvthe drawing, each sidewall is formed of a front corner post I0, a rear corner post I2, and panels I4 and I6. The front corner posts Ill are straight throughout'their length andare transversely curved with oiset 'flat flanges II at each side edge. The rear corner members are of similar cross sectional shape and have a vertical straight portion I2 over approximately the upper half of Vthe cab and an inclined straight portion I3 over approximately the lower half of the cab. Each side pair of corner members IU and I2 are' joined over approximately the upper half of thefcab Vby a sheet metal wall panel I4, which is welded against the anges II of the corner members It] and I2, and is provided with an unglazed window opening I5. At the lower end of each side pair of corner members, and spaced below the 'side wall panel I4, a side platevIB joins the corner members I0 and I3. This plate'IS extends upwardly a substantial distance, both to provide la protecting barrier between the operator and the tractor wheel, and toform a substantial support for the pivotedA rear bracket for the cab. The front pair of corner members ID are joined by a front wall panel I8 containing a glass windowshield I9. The panel" I8 may desirably also contain Ventilating openings adjacent its upper edge, and these are desirably coveredby a visor 2I attached tothe front panel I8. panel I8 overlaps the flanges II ofthe front corner posts I0 and is secured thereto. Conveniently, the attachment of the front panel is by bolts, for reasons which will be pointed out below, but it may be by welding if desired. At.A

the lower ends of the front corner members Ill there are inwardly extending support members 23, theinner ends of which are connected to downwardly Vextending brackets 24 for attachment to the tractor. The inwardly'extending front support members may be connected to the upper panel I'either by side panelsy or by braces, ii' desired, but such braces are not necessary and conveniently the'space abovethe members 23 Yis Vibers I0 and I2 and to the side and front panels I4 and I8. While the top I6 may be secured to The front left open, andclOSed with` a detachable curtain tion together in a much smaller space than that required for the assembled cab. The cab may then readily be assembled either by the nal seller or by the purchaser.

For substantially completely enclosing the cab. .I provide curtains to cover the openings in the sheet-metalstructure. The side window openings I5 are desirably closed by curtains having a Viiexilclle window 32, and may be attached by .detachable fastenings around the edges of the window opening I5. The lower opening in each side wall, between the-panel I4 and the plate I6 Vis lclosed by separate detachable curtains, which may be fully opaque. These are desirably secured at the top to the inside of thel wall panel I4, along their edges to the outer sides of the in wardly extending flangesl II of 'the corner meinbers I0 and I3, and at the bottom to the outer side ci the plate I5. The lower half of the front wall is closed by a curtain 25, detachably secured at the top to the inside of the lower edge of the front panel I8, and at the sides to theoutside of thel inwardly extending flanges II of the corner members I9. The iront curtain 25 desirably contains exible windows 26 and is cut to nt around the adjacent parts of the particular trac tor upon which the cab is to be mounted.

The rear wall of the tractor is closed by two curtains meeting on a horizontal line slightly below the bend in the rear corner members I2--I3. The upper curtain 33 may be secured at the top in a manner which does not provide ready detachability, and desirably lies inside the corner braces 2'I and inside the inwardly extending flanges II of the corner members I2. It includes a large flexible Vwindow 34, and at its lower edge has a wide hem in Vwhich a cross member is received. The rear curtain 33 may be rolled upwardly, about the cross member 35, and -secured by suitable straps 35 secured to the top 30. The cross rod 35 carries at its inside vdetachable fasteners for the lower curtain 38. The upper curtain is desirably somewhat longer than the .vertical portions I2 of the rear corner members, so that when it is fully loweredrthe cross member 35 lies against the insidev of the inwardly extending flanges II on the inclined lower portions I3 of the rear corner posts. vThe lower curtain 38 is desirably secured at its top to the inside of the cross member 35, and at its edges to the flanges I I of the corner portions I3.

The cab is mounted on the frame ofr the tractor, conveniently at VJfour points respectively adjacent the four corners of the cab. At the rear, the mounting 4is by means of a pair ,0f brackets 40 which may be bolted tothe frame 4I of the tractor, and which are pivotally interconnected to a side wall of. the cab, conveniently through the lower panel I6 of such wall. The pivotal mountings maybe separable ones, as by including removable pivot pins, and conveniently may be separable in planes spaced inwardly from the side walls a sufficient distance to clear the inwardly extending a-nges II of the rear corner members I3. l

The front corner supports, Vas has been described, comprise a pair of inwardly extending supporting Vvmembers 23 adjacent the lower corners ofthe front wall of the tractor, and apar of depending brackets 24. .Such'brackets24 are desirably. slotted at their lower ends in a way which permits them to. engage and disengage studsV 43 on the tractor as the cab is pivote about its pivotal axis.

In my new cab structure, the upper portion of the cab is positioned to venclose the operators position on the tractor and to give such operator ample freedom of movement and of vision, to operate the tractor' and to watch the ground over which the tractor is moving and the implements which may be operated by or with the tractor. The lower portion of the cab, because of the inclined front wall of the cab, gives the operator ample room to operate the pedals of the tractor; and because of the inclined position of the corner members I3 of the cab and of the lower rear curtain stretched between such corner members I3, the cab fully avoids interference with implements which are attached to the rear of the tractor and with the means by which such implements are attached and operated.

The two brackets 40 provide a pivotal mounting on transverse horizontal pivot axes, the position of which is related both to the cab structure and to the tractor structure. Such pivotal axis is positioned with respect to the cab structure so that as the cab is pivoted about that axis the lower edge of the front panel I8 will move in a path which clears the steering wheel 42 of the tractor and associated control mechanism for the tractor. The pivotal axis is related to the position of the lower rear corner members I3 of the cab, so that in pivotal movement of the cab about such axis, such corner members I3 will clear the tractor structure. In addition, such pivotal axis is at a point which avoids interference and which places the cab at a point which avoids interference with the portions of the tractor usually mounted adjacent the rear of the axle housing thereof, by which implements and attachments are secured for operation with and by the tractor. Moreover, the pivotal axis is a considerable distance ahead of the rear vertical corner members I2 of the cab, so that it lies directly below a point adjacent the mid point of the top of each side wall of the cab, and hence relatively close to the transverse vertical plane containing the center of gravity of the cab.

The relative position of center of gravity close to the pivot axis results also from interrelation of the cab structure. Thus in general the upper approximate half of the cab is of sheet-metal panel construction, while the lower half is generally of open frame construction. Such upper half construction gives the necessary rigidity and strength to the cab, and the special conguration of the cab centers the Weight of the panel construction rearwardly toward the pivot axis.

The position of the pivotal mounting adjacent the vertical transverse plane containing the center of gravity of the cab assists in the attachment and detachment operations, by minimizing the amount of lifting which is necessary in tilting the cab from one position to the other and providing that all necessary lifting may be done from the ground and need not be done from any position on the tractor.

The configuration and structure of the cab and the position of its mounting are thus interrelated in a way which facilitates the ready attachment and detachment of the cab by a single operator. 'Indetaching the cab, the operator may release the studs 43 of the front supports, andk may then tilt the tractor rearwardly about its pivotal'axis onto any convenient stationary support, such` as the ,horses shown by way of example in Fig. l. Such operation may be performed with the operatorstanding on the ground. He may then detachithe.pivotalrsup port, and drive the tractor away from the cab. To re-attach the cab the operator may back the tractor into position with respect to the cab, may attach the pivot mountings; and may then tilt the cab forwardly to its normal position and secure it in place. Again the whole tilting operation may be performed with the operator standing on the ground.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tractor cab, comprising generally parallel side walls, a front wall, and a top, the rear wall thereof being substantially open, each of said side walls having a rearwardly inclined front edge, a generally upright rear edge over its upper portion, and an inclined rear edge over its lower portion, whereby the lower rear corner of said side wall lies below a point adjacent the middle point of the top of said wall, each such side wall comprising front and rear corner members, a rigid wallpanel interconnecting the generally upright portion of its rear corner member with the front corner member over the upper approximate half of said side wall, and a rigid lower panel spaced from said upper panel, a pivotal mounting for said cab on a transverse axis cutting said side walls adjacent points above the lower rear corners thereof, said lower side-Wall panels providing support for said mounting, said n front wall comprising a rigid panel containing a windshield and interconnecting the front corners of said side-walls over the upper approximate half thereof, the lower approximate half of said front wall being open, a demountable curtain for the open lower half of the front wall, demountable curtains for the spaces between the side-wall panels, a rear demountable curtain to close the space between the generally upright portions of said rear corner member, and a separate demountable curtain securable to the bottom edge of said last-named curtain and to the lower inclined portions of said rear corners.

2. A cab for mounting between the spaced rear Wheels of a tractor, comprising generally parallel side walls, a front wall, and a top, the rear wall thereof being substantially open, each of said side walls having a rearwardly inclined front edge, a generally upright rear edge over its upper portion, and an inclined rear edge over its lower portion, whereby the lower rear corner of said side wall lies below a point adjacent the middle point of the top of said wall, each such side wall comprising front and rear corner members, a`

axis cutting said side walls adjacent points above` the lower rear corners thereof, said lower sidewall panels providing support for said mounting, said front wall comprising a rigid panel containing a Windshield and interconnecting the front corners of said side-walls over the upper 1 approximate half thereof; the lower approximate half oiV said front Wall being open. Number D. 142,761 ROBERT H. HILL. 693,591 5 1,314,225 REFERENCES CITED 1,398,307 VThe following references are of record in the 1,650,757 file of this patent: 1,689,765

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Zeiler Oct. Draper Feb. Souchek Aug.

Thompson NOV. Kraus Nov. Baxter Oct.

Williams Deo.

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